7/17/2016 Indianapolis Indians 4, Louisville Bats 6

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Game 4 of 4

Another Squad effort at LSF today...Kei and I started off in 211

...we were joined by my friends Joel and Sheila, yet moved over to 219 just before being boiled alive by the sun and humidity

#SquadGoals

My scoresheets, using my pitch-counting method! Read about it HERE, download the scoresheets for free HERE!

All four of us played the Mystery Rookie Card game; I can't recall who drew this exquisite 2005 Bowman BPP73 Matt Maloney, but it was a close second in the race, for sure.

Matt was one of my favorite Louisville relief pitchers, and is the all-time K leader for the Bats. Matt originally ended up with the Reds when they sent Kyle Lohse to the Phillies at the trade deadline in 2007, but was placed on waivers in 2011 and picked up by the Minnesota Twins. There begins the period of desolation you might expect...he signed as a free agent with Boston the following year, with no sizable benefit for either party. In 2014, he started playing independent ball, signed with the Reds and was released a month later. 2015 found him back in Indie ball again (4 games with the Sugarland Skeeters), and has since disappeared into the ether.

Who's Bill White? He's from Louisville...but not so much as you'd know it. He attended high school in Alabama, and was a 3rd round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000.

Well, that didn't work out so great...seven years with the Diamondbacks, no MLB service time. So why is he wearing a Nationals jersey, while the card says he's a Ranger, on this 2008 Upper Deck? Good question. White signed with the Nats in November 2006, and was released by the time Spring Training was done in March 2007...he signed with the Rangers two days later, made his MLB debut with them the same year, and became a free agent at the end of 2008. The Cubs picked him up on January 11, 2009 and let him go just over a month later. He was on the 2010 roster of the Long Island Ducks as a reliever, pitched 19 games and was subsequently ether-bound.

Speaking of ether, this 2007 Topps features another 3rd round pick who was also destined to stay in his org for a number of years (9). Chase Wright did appear in 3 games for the Yankees in 2007, but that's it for MLB.

The Yankees traded Wright to the Brewers for Eric Fryer in 2009, he stayed with the org until his release in 2011. 2012 found him in 44 games for the Somerset Patriots and 6 games for the Dominican Winter League Gigantes del Cibao, before disappearing to wherever washed-up 3rd round pick 29 year old pitchers disappear to.

As I mentioned earlier, my pick won...hands down. All hail THE PRINCE!!

Joel brought me this stunning 1990 Topps Von Hayes...

He also brought me this great Reds team set from a 2009 giveaway at GABP...lots of familiar faces in there...

Official Program (featuring Cody Reed) and Scorecard

BONUS: Fun Time with Buddy Bat!! Valuable Coupons inside!!!

Ticket

Bat Chat and Gameday Stats

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6/18/11 Toledo Mud Hens 1, Louisville Bats 3

Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY
Game 3 of 4

Kansas City native Scott Carroll is starting to become one of my favorite pitchers.


He pitched well but still got roughed up a little bit on Opening Day, since then he’s compiled a 5-2 win loss record and is cruising along with a 4 plus change ERA and only two (maybe three) rough outings in his last 10 games. Scott can carry several innings of shut-out work deep into a game before hitters start to get to him. I liked Travis Wood a lot last year, for the record I think Scott is a much better pitcher with just as much stuff as Travis, with better command and use of his pitch profile. That being said, he was roughed up by the Toledo Mud Hens on opening day, and that’s who the Bats are facing today. With Daniel Ray Herrera gone, hopes are the Bats can handle the Mud Hens lineup with more efficiency this time around.



Before we get into the game, this is my first June game which means new programs are out…I’m not ashamed to say I yelped aloud to find not only a Todd Frazier article but none other than the all-time strike out leader for the Louisville Bats, Matt Maloney on the cover!!


This game went a lot different, Scott had another great outing, NEVER lost control of the game, and had some ‘executive’ relief assistance from Sam LeCure, in Louisville on rehab. The Bats’ offense managed to squeeze in a few runs, but fought hard in doing so…the Mud Hens’ pitchers (Enrique Gonzalez, L.J. Gagnier, and Brad Thomas, the latter also in a rehab assignment) were nearly as effective. Rather than a pitching duel between starters, there was an even greater duel between several pitchers; Carroll and LeCure pretty much had the Mud Hens handcuffed.

An interesting note about the Mud Hens’ pitching staff this evening…for all 3 pitchers: 4BB, 7K, 1 HR, 1 HB, 13 balls in the air and only 2 groundouts.

Rain threatened the area but never quite appeared…Chihiro took my picture. People usually don’t hesitate to stop me and ask about stuff I’m wearing at games, but the Taco Mac shirt gets the most inquiries, I think.


Oh, and hey…for the first time this year, the Zooperstars are in the house! Here Brendan Wise (RHP for Toledo, did not pitch tonight) is attacked after whooping Alex Frogriguez in a dance contest.


This is Yao Flamingo, Ken Giraffey Jr, and Manatee Ramirez (who has not retired) messing about with Mud Hens 3B Bryan Pounds…


And, of course, Harry Canary led us in singing “Take Me Out…” and spraying folks with silly string during the 7th inning stretch.


I told myself “I’m not going to take any pictures of Todd tonight” but you know that I am obliged to. Here’s Todd Frazier, who had a dismal evening (0-for-4, 2K, a flyout, lineout, and groundout) facing Enrique Gonzalez (2.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 4K, HR, 13 BF, 61 pitchers, 37 for strikes, 9.56 FIP*)…Gonzalez was taken out of the game too soon to tell what the rest of his night could have been like, but there’s no doubt about it…he was throwing strikes.


* Yes, for the first time in this post…introducing FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) as a stat I will include in each pitcher’s line whenever I can ‘whip it up’…we’re going to give this a shot! What is FIP? Read THIS for more information. The league average I’m using for now is 3.2, if you think I should use something different for Minor League, Independent League, Major League, or whatever league…please drop me a comment on this and I will mess around with it a little.

Danny Dorn at bat (2-for-3, 2R, 2H, K, 2RBI on a HR off Enrique Gonzalez with 1 on and 1 out)


Cale Iorg (1-for-3, H, 2K) faces Scott Carroll (6IP, 4H, ER, BB, 4K, 22 BF, 66 pitches, 44 for strikes, 2.37 FIP). I mentioned Cale in my Opening Day post.


Will Rhymes (0-for-3, BB, 3 groundouts) faces Scott Carroll.


Zack Cozart (0-for-4, 2K, 2 Flyouts) faces Enrique Gonzalez…

…and flies out to Center Fielder Clete Thomas.


Hey kids, it’s Jeremy Hermida (1-for-2, 2BB, putout 7-6-2 coming home on a double by Devin Mesoraco)…Jeremy (.346/.434/.500) is currently in a near-statistical tie for the International League batting crown with Gwinnett Braves’ Jose Constanza (.345/.392/.401). I think it’s safe to assume that a batting crown alone doesn’t tell you who is a more effective hitter.

Hermida facing Enrique Gonzalez…a swingandamiss!


Todd Frazier again.


Sam LeCure (3IP, 3H, 0R, 3K, 11 BF, 46 pitches, 32 for strikes, 1.20 FIP) warming up on the mound…


Cale Iorg faces Sam LeCure in the 7th inning.


The 8th inning was brought to you by Ocean Spray…and you can thank Tug Haines for helping out with that!!!


Detroit Tigers 3B Brandon Inge (1-for-4, K, 2 flyouts) is rehabbing in Toledo! His only hit of the night was against Sam LeCure, but he was erase on Bryan Pounds’ GIDP (6-3) to end the top of the 9th, and the game, with the Bats winning 3-1.




After the game, a 3-inning exhibition Men’s Slow Pitch Softball game occurred between the visiting Wounded Warriors and a combo squad of Louisville Police and Fire Departments. The Wounded Warriors squad was comprised of entirely amputee players…a very impressive outing and program, as they tour to promote the program and show off their skills. Here is a brief writeup of their visit by Fox 41’s Tom Lane, including a video with the local news story.






Official Scorecard and Bat Chat






Official Program: MATT MALONEY!